AFTER promising to hold the census in March this year, the government is now giving assurances it will be held next year. But its words ring hollow at this point. The last time, too, we were given assurances that the exercise would be held on time, and then a postponement was announced, with the authorities citing the unavailability of army personnel needed for security and supervision during the population count. To most observers though, a delay was expected long before the last-minute announcement; little groundwork had been done, and funds had not been released. In fact, it was baffling to see the government trying to convince parliament that the census would be held on time when there was no sign that preparations were under way for the count.

This time, once again, parliament has been assured by the law minister that the census will be held next March. Several questions naturally arise: have the requisite funds for the exercise been released? Has the preparatory work for such a mammoth exercise begun? After all, the census is not like counting chickens in a coop. And how exactly does the government intend to ensure that this time there will be enough military presence for security and supervision? Considering that the last census was held in 1998 and that subsequent dispensations shied away from conducting a population count, one would not be surprised if the government were once again to go back on its commitment.

If we remain stuck on the question of availability of military personnel, the census will never be conducted. It is unlikely that the myriad engagements the military is caught up in will subside in the near future. It is also difficult to believe that there is no way around this issue. It is common knowledge that compelling political considerations revolve around a census exercise due to the ramifications it has for provincial seat shares in parliament. Even here a solution can be found in the model that freezes provincial seat shares for a certain number of years, irrespective of the outcome of the census. The point is that the state is largely working blind in its policy formulation, given that the census data it relies on is 18 years old. If, with its majority in parliament, the government cannot muster the will to rectify matters, and can only put up an appearance of being keen to hold the census, only to back down at the last minute, then it cannot expect its governance track record to be taken seriously. The census is a priority for the state, and it must be conducted within the next few months — before preparations start for the general elections due in 2018. The rulers should not leave this unfinished business for the next government.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2016